The Final Degree Project (TFG) «Implementation of a Flight Termination System module for CubeSats», carried out by the student of the Degree in Industrial Technologies Engineering of the Higher Technical School of Engineering of the University of Seville, Álvaro Hanekan Gómez, has been selected to participate in the New Space Spain 2026 Congress, which will be held in Vigo on September 24 and 25.

The project, developed in the Department of Electronic Engineering under the supervision of professors José María Hinojo Montero and Fernando Muñoz Chavero, is part of the FyCUS 2030 mission, an association of students from the University of Seville dedicated to the development of space technology.

This final degree project addresses the design and implementation from scratch of a Flight Termination System (FTS) for CubeSat platforms used on stratospheric balloons and develops a technology aimed at ensuring the controlled separation of the platform from its launch system. In the case of the FyCUS 2030 mission, the CubeSat will be deployed from helium balloons, and the developed system allows the activation of a burn-wire capable of melting the TX4 load line to effect this separation.

The project is part of a mission whose objective is to validate in orbit the use of an ABET (Air-Breathing Electric Thruster), a space propulsion technology that uses gases from the residual atmosphere to generate thrust. In this context, the development of an FTS system constitutes an element of the mission's electronic architecture designed to provide controlled and reliable vehicle separation.

electronic design focused on reliability

One of the main challenges addressed in this final degree project was the design of a redundant electronic architecture, aimed at increasing system reliability. The module integrates a ProASIC3 FPGA as a control element and an SX1280 LoRa transceiver to establish communication with the ground segment.

The development encompassed all phases of electronic design, from circuit simulation and verification to prototype fabrication and experimental validation. LTspice was used to analyze the most critical circuits, particularly the power supply stages and the circuit responsible for activating the separation mechanism.

Subsequently, the complete design of the printed circuit board (PCB) was carried out using Altium Designer, including the development of the schematic, the layout, the routing and the optimization of the board.

The experimental phase included various laboratory tests designed to characterize and validate the separation mechanism. The tests were conducted both under ambient conditions and at −25 °C, a temperature used to simulate the expected operating conditions and verify the system's performance in this scenario.

As a result, the project has enabled the development of a complete, robust FTS module geared towards its application in a stratospheric mission, culminating a process that encompasses everything from the conception of the electronic architecture to its implementation and experimental validation.

Recognition of the work carried out at the ETSi

The final degree project was highly praised by the evaluation panel, receiving the highest possible grade of 10 with honors. Its selection to participate in the New Space Spain 2026 Congress also represents recognition of the quality of the work carried out and the application of knowledge in electronic engineering, systems design, communications, digital electronics, and circuit design to a space technology project.

The presentation of the project at this national meeting will allow us to publicize the work carried out by the University of Seville and, especially, the activity developed by FyCUS and ETSi in the field of space engineering, contributing to strengthening the presence of the University of Seville in the growing New Space ecosystem.

Participation in the congress also highlights the ability of ETSi students to tackle highly complex technological projects, integrating knowledge acquired during their training with design, simulation, manufacturing and experimental validation processes applied to real challenges in the aerospace industry.